Tech & Biz

Circuit City Liquidation Madness

by Jordan Yerman | January 18, 2009 at 12:20 pm

619 views | 0 Recommendations | 6 comments

A firsthand report from the front lines of the Circuit City liquidation. Mayhem is in full effect as Circuit City is not quite Circuit City and not quite dead. Imagine if a chain electronics store had its head cut off, but the body still could flail around...

Brooke Crothers faced the beast and lived to blog the tale.

Inside, it was close to pandemonium. (The manager would not let me take pictures inside the store.) Consumers swarming everywhere: every one of them with at least a few breathless questions and scant employees to provide answers. And consumers seemingly snapping up anything that wasn't nailed down. (I've never seen so many HP wide-screen monitors in one checkout line.)

One male employee in the section I was browsing, spent most of the time I was there (about 15 minutes) pleading ignorance and searching for a manager who never (apparently) materialized.

A female employee I talked to outside (she was on break) said no one knew it would happen--until it happened.

Also see stories from DebtFreeDave and Barbara Mathieson.

12 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

rpshen

at 12:59 on January 18th, 2009

I can just imagine the mayhem. Ppl hunting for good deals on electronics. It's like boxing day but with better prices.

stargazer95050

at 13:18 on January 18th, 2009

Not a surprise, now Circuit City liquidates all its inventory. So many vultures swooped in to see what's for sale. Traffic wasn't as strong as others reported. and only very few items qualify for the 30%-off

At only 10% off their old list-prices, items are on par or even higher than the regular prices at the competition. For example -- a WNDR3300 router
- their price $109 - 10% = $99 + tax = $108
- Fry's $99 + tax (but I have service, warranty and 30-day money back guarantee) = $108
- BestBuy currently also at $99 + tax
- Amazon $89 + tax (free shipping) = $96

If Circuit City (or the liquidator) wants my business and make me give up warranties, support etc, I demand lower prices !!
I'll come back if/when they have a 30%...50% off sale

girlonbike

at 13:56 on January 18th, 2009

Heard of one employee with FIREDOG on shirt, put piece of tape over the OG ....

FIRED--

SRShearer

at 14:08 on January 18th, 2009

A huge line in front of Circuit City on Saturday morning the day after the liquidation was announced. Security came out to make sure everything was going ok with the line stretching around the building.

SRShearer has contributed a photo to this story.

†obias

at 18:23 on January 18th, 2009

If you guys want more pictures (from inside the stores, of my fellow associates in my store) I'm going to be taking a lot soon.

jimboncis

at 06:12 on January 19th, 2009

This photo was taken by Jim Northrup @ the Durham, NC Circuity City store. For more great pictures, you can check out my 365 Project at http://flickr.com/photos/31528447@N03/sets/72157612015636190/

jimboncis has contributed a photo to this story.